Tracking the EagleBank Bowl tie-ins

It comes down to the final weekend of the season to determine whether the ACC will get a ninth bowl-eligible team.

Of course it does.

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Something to keep in mind as the Dec. 20 EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium draws closer. Even though the ninth bowl-eligible team could be determined next weekend, it doesn’t mean that team is locked into coming to Washington. In fact, there’s a decent chance it would be someone else altogether landing in the nation’s capital.

Whatever ACC team comes to D.C. (if one even becomes eligible at all) will face Navy (6-4). The Midshipmen play Tuesday at Northern Illinois.

Duke was bounced out of contention for a bowl berth Saturday, but three other ACC teams can win their way into the postseason this weekend:

CLEMSON (6-5)

The Tigers knocked off Virginia, and need only to defeat South Carolina at home to complete a 4-1 closing stretch and salvage something out of a season that began with a spot in the top 10.

N.C. STATE (5-6)

The Wolfpack spoiled North Carolina’s home finale, blistering the Tar Heels to improve to 4-0 against in-state opponents. State plays host to Miami next weekend, and a win makes them a legitimate possibility for the EagleBank Bowl.

VIRGINIA (5-6)

The Cavaliers had a much better chance of upending Clemson at home than they did winning next weekend at Virginia Tech. It didn’t happen, and Virginia has now dropped three in a row.